Charlene Tilton
Charlene Tilton | |
---|---|
San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
Years active | 1976–present |
Known for | Lucy Ewing in Dallas |
Spouse(s) | Johnny Lee (1982–1984) Domenick Allen (1985–1992) |
Children | 1 |
Charlene L. Tilton is an American actress and singer.[1][2] She is widely known for playing Lucy Ewing on the CBS prime time soap opera Dallas.
Career
Tilton had early roles on such television series such Happy Days and Eight Is Enough. She made her first film appearance alongside Jodie Foster in Freaky Friday (1976). In 1978, Tilton made a cameo appearance in the John Milius film Big Wednesday. The same year, she made her big break by landing the role of Lucy Ewing, the sly, vixenish, frequently frustrated granddaughter of John "Jock" Ewing Sr. and the former Eleanor "Ellie" Southworth on the television series Dallas, alongside actors Jim Davis, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Larry Hagman, from 1978 to 1985 and from 1988 to 1990. She also appeared on one episode of the series' spin-off Knots Landing in 1980. At the height of her Dallas fame, she received a $50,000 salary per episode, appeared on 500 magazine covers, and drew 65 million viewers for her 1981 TV wedding.[3]
Tilton is also a singer, lending her vocal ability to a 1978 episode of Dallas titled "Runaway", in which
Tilton was the guest host on an episode of
After Dallas, Tilton appeared in the 1990 western film
In 2001, Tilton was honored by the
In 2012, Tilton joined the cast of TNT's Dallas revival series, and reprised her role as Lucy Ewing in a number of episodes.[7][8] She later appeared in the ABC comedy series The Middle in 2015, and the thriller film Vengeance: A Love Story. Tilton also appeared in a number of Lifetime and Hallmark Channel films in later years.[9]
Personal life
Tilton was born in San Diego, California, the daughter of Katherine Thacker, a secretary.[citation needed]
Tilton was married to country singer Johnny Lee from 1982 to 1984. Their daughter, Cherish Lee, was born in 1982. In 2001, Tilton began dating cinematographer Cheddy Hart. The couple enjoyed boating and lived together in a modest home in Oxnard, California. In December 2009, Hart suddenly died of heart failure at age 54.[citation needed]
Tilton is a strong advocate for autism awareness in the media. She is currently the ambassador for Actors for Autism, an organization that leads improv and acting workshops for children and adults with autism. She approached AFA in 2010 with the desire to volunteer and has been affiliated with them ever since.[10]
Friendship with Larry Hagman
While in high school, the young unknown actress met Larry Hagman, whom she regarded as a surrogate father. Then, a few years later, at age 17, she auditioned and won the role of Hagman's confused niece, Lucy Ewing, on Dallas. The two had a remarkable on- and off-screen chemistry, for the show's first eight seasons, and they also danced together, off camera. She left the show at the end of the eighth season, her contract having expired; Larry Hagman was very disappointed over her departure. She said of Hagman in 1988, "He called me and said, 'You're certainly a good actress, we never realized.' I think Larry went to bat for me to come back on the show."[11] That same year, she came back to the show, and stayed on for two more seasons, until her departure in 1990, a year before the series finale. After Dallas, Tilton remained on good terms with Hagman, and cared deeply about her TV uncle's failing health. In 1995, Hagman was diagnosed with liver cancer and needed a liver transplant; he later received a transplant and survived the bout with cancer. She did not appear in any of the Dallas TV reunion movies, but in 2004, appeared in Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork.
In September 2001, she was the only Dallas cast member to attend Larry Hagman's 70th birthday. Eleven years later, she was reunited with Hagman for the last time to star in the second incarnation of Dallas. When Hagman died on November 23, 2012, due to complications from myelodysplastic syndrome , she was devastated, and attended his funeral. Upon his death, Tilton released a statement: "At seventeen years old, my life took a turn that one could only dream of. I was cast as Lucy Ewing in the iconic show Dallas. Dallas was so much more than a television phenomenon to me. It was my family. I grew up with a mentally ill single mother raising me and no father figure in my life. I lived on my own in an apartment from the age of 15. I remember the day I met the force of nature that is Larry Hagman like it was yesterday. My Uncle Larry became the father figure that I so needed and longed for. He taught me how to be professional, work hard, but have fun at the same time, and how to respect the opportunities I was blessed to have been given. He was very protective because I was so young, but also expected the best from me on the set of Dallas. He was one of the best actors the world has ever known. To me, he will always be my Uncle Larry. I am so so very sad, but cherish the lifetime of memories I have with him."[12]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | Freaky Friday | Bambi | |
1978 | Sweater Girls | Candy | |
1978 | Big Wednesday | Party Girl | |
1980 | Pale Horse Pale Rider | Miranda | Short film |
1990 | Law at Randado
|
Edith Hanasain | |
1991 | Problem Child 2 | Debbie Claukinski | |
1991 | Ragin' Cajun | Ali Webster | |
1991 | For Parents Only | Mrs. Farell | |
1992 | Deadly Bet | Isabella | |
1992 | Center of the Web | Kathryn Lockwood | |
1994 | The Silence of the Hams | Jane Wine | |
1996 | Detonator | Gail Davies | |
2000 | Guido Takes a Hike | Bartender | Short film |
2001 | Totally Blonde | Blonde School Director | |
2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | Charlene Tilton | |
2005 | A Distant Thunder | Susan | Short film |
2006 | Getting It Straight | Cynthia Rosenburg | Short film |
2008 | Tell Veronica | Veronica Star | |
2008 | Superhero Movie | Jill's Mother | |
2009 | The Fish | Charlene Tilton | |
2009 | Sarah's Choice | Michelle Biden | Direct-to-video |
2010 | Paranormal Calamity | Jacquiline | |
2010 | #1 Cheerleader Camp | Charlene Tilton | Direct-to-video |
2010 | Mean Parents Suck | Jean Farell | |
2011 | Doctor Spine | Aunt Sally | |
2012 | Edge of Salvation | Sarah Malone | |
2012 | Hemingway | Mrs. Hemingway | |
2013 | Buttwhistle | Mrs. Podgorney | |
2013 | Lucky Dog | Jeanie | |
2014 | Not Another Celebrity Movie | Chef | |
2017 | Vengeance: A Love Story | Mrs. Irma Fick | |
2017 | Road Less Traveled | Babs | |
2019 | Starting Up Love | Aunt Marjory | |
2020 | A Welcome Home Christmas | Lynn Marquee | |
2022 | A Unicorn for Christmas | Nancy | |
2023 | Heaven Sent | Pam | |
2023 | The Nana Project | Esther |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | Happy Days | Jill Higgins | Episode: "They Shoot Fonzies, Don't They?" |
1977 | Eight Is Enough | Wendy Springer | Episode: "Women, Ducks and the Domino Theory" |
1978–85 1988–90 1991 |
Dallas | Lucy Ewing Cooper | Series regular, 246 episodes Young Artist Award for Best Juvenile Actress in a TV Series or Special (1979) Young Artist Award Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award (2001) TV Land Pop Culture Award (2006) Bambi Award for Best Jubilee (1987) Nominated — Bravo Otto Germany Award for Best Female TV Star (1981) Nominated — Golden Apple Award — Sour Apple (1982) |
1979 | Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker | Julie | TV movie |
1979 | The Fall of the House of Usher | Jennifer Cresswell | TV movie |
1980 | Knots Landing | Lucy Ewing | Episode: "Home is for Healing" |
1980 | Laverne & Shirley | The Girl at Bar | Episodes: "Murder on the Moose Jaw Express: Part 1 and Part 2" |
1980 | Fantasy Island | Charlotte 'Charlie' Johnson | Episode: "Skater's Edge/Concerto of Death/The Last Great Race" |
1981 | Saturday Night Live | Herself – Host / Various | Episode: "Charlene Tilton/Todd Rundgren/Prince" |
1983 | Hotel | Holly Lane | Episode: "Relative Loss" |
1980–87 | The Love Boat | Various | 4 episodes |
1987 | Murder, She Wrote | Cindy March | Episode: "The Cemetery Vote" |
1993 | Married... with Children | Herself | Episode: "Tis Time to Smell the Roses" |
1995 | Favorite Deadly Sins | Norma Jean | TV movie |
1995 | Star Witness | Grace Kelly | TV movie |
1998 | Safety Patrol | Mrs. Zapruder | TV movie |
2000 | The Theory of Everything | Stephanie | TV movie |
2000 | Bar Hopping | Actress | TV movie |
2004 | Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork | Herself / Lucy Ewing | TV special |
2007 | Point of Entry (AKA Panic Button) | Helen | TV movie |
2010 | RuPaul's Drag U | Herself/Makeover Model | Episode: "A Star is Born Again" |
2012–14 | Dallas | Lucy Ewing | 6 episodes |
2013 | DeVanity | Francesca DeVanity | Web series, Guest Star in episode 3.6 Indie Series Award for Best Guest Star - Drama[13] |
2013 | Reading, Writing & Romance | Penny | TV movie |
2014 | The Michaels | Dora | TV movie |
2015 | The Middle | Rhonda | Episode: "The Answer" |
2017 | Second Chance Christmas | Peg | TV movie |
References
- ^ New York Times
- ^ "'Beirut': The Big Apple as Quarantine Zone". Los Angeles Times. November 1, 1987.
- ^ "Charlene Tilton". People. November 28, 1994. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-316-78146-6.
- ^ "22nd Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
- ^ "Charlene Tilton on Dancing on Ice and going back to Dallas – Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. January 7, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Keck's Exclusives: TNT's Dallas to Serve Up More Lucy and Ray – Today's News: Our Take". TV Guide. November 10, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "'Dallas': After Charlene Tilton's cameo, who else should return? – Zap2it". Blog.zap2it.com. June 15, 2012. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "TV Legend Charlene Tilton on the Iconic 'Dallas' and Lucy Ewing, Her New Lifetime Movie 'A Welcome Home Christmas' & More!". December 11, 2020.
- ^ "What Happened to Dallas' "Scheming Sexpot"? The Oprah Winfrey Show". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
- ^ "Once Dallas' Wild Child, Charlene Tilton Returns to the Ranch in a New Guise—as a Grown Up!". People. May 9, 1988. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "Dallas: Larry Hagman Remembered by Castmates". TVSeriesFinale.com. November 25, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "5th Annual Indie Series Awards Winners".
External links
- Charlene Tilton at IMDb
- Charlene Tilton at the TCM Movie Database
- Charlene Tilton at AllMovie
- Charlene Tilton on X
- Charlene Tilton on Rotten Tomatoes, Flixster Inc
- Charlene Tilton, su MusicBrainz, MetaBrainz Foundation
- Charlene Tilton, su Discogs, Zink Media